Primary v secondary.

[gunner]

After viewing crown caps great post on bottling a brew,i couldn't work out whether the brew was racked to the bottling bucket straight from primary or secondary fermentation before bottling

My recent brew has been sitting in secondary for a week,and i intend to bottle it in the middle of next week.

Was just wondering what others do,as GW's book doesn't recommend bottling straight from the primary.

Graham.

[aus069]

When I first started brewing I always bottled from the primary until I found a better way . Now I just bottle from the secondary , now the beer is so much more clear . You can also try the bottling bucket method but I prefer to handle it as little as possible.

Cheers
aus069

[OldSpeckledBadger]

If I'm bottling into 2 litre PETs I dry prime and go straight from the primary FV as it's less faffing about. For smaller bottles, I rack into another FV to which I've added the wet prime the bottle from that. Any yeast which is so rank that I'd have to rack to secondary during fermentation is a yeast I would avoid like the plague.

[gunner]

Thanks guys,but still a little confused.

This is the process that i have in my mind,is it correct.

A.Once the FG has been reached,leave another 2 days to settle,then bottle straight from Primary FV.(primings added to bottles)

B.Once at FG and left for 2 days,rack to secondary vessel(bottling bucket) and then bottle.(primings added to bottling bucket wet)

C.Once at FG and left for 2 days,rack to secondary,leave for 7-10 days then bottle.(primings added to bottling bucket or added to secondary vessel)

Which one of these is the best way to go?

Graham.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Which one of these is the best way to go?

There is no "best" but with any decent modern yeast strain there's no need to rack to secondary for a week. I just leave it in primary for a few extra days to allow most of the yeast to drop out and then bottle.

[jubby]

You can use any of those methods Graham. The best one is the method that suits you best. This is my opinion:

A. This will work well, there's less chance of exposure to o2, but it will take longer to clear and more sediment in the bottle. I use corny's and bottle what's left (probably 5 or 6 bottles) and I use this method.

B. This is pretty much the same as A above, but you get a good even distribution of priming sugars.

C.If using this method, you can fine the secondary and after your 7-10 days it should be crystal clear. Then bottle directly from the secondary, priming the bottles with less sugar as there won't be as much yeast left in suspension. If you were using a yeast with good flocculation (forms a nice compact layer that's difficult to disturb) you could add your priming sugars to the secondary just before bottling, stirring it gently so as not to disturb the yeast, then bottle.

[Big G]

I always leave mine in primary for 10 days.

Transfer to secondary for 7 days.

Prime bottles and rack.

Have tried bottling from both but much prefer the above, get no where near as much sediment in my bottles.

[aus069]

There is no proper way of doing it . If you want clear beer then you could go the secondary for a few days , bulk prime and bottle , or prime each individual bottle and then fill em up . It has been said before do it the way that you are most comfortable with .

[gunner]

Thanks for your replies,i have a better idea of this process now,many thanks.Like some of you say,it's what suits best.

I think i will try them all and over time,trail and error,but i just wanted some input as there is so much info,it feels like your going round in circles sometimes.

Graham.